Meet the Paddle for Heroes Family

At Paddle for Heroes, we believe that every veteran deserves a chance to experience the healing power of nature and adventure sports. Our program offers a unique opportunity for veterans to bond with fellow service members and participate in challenging activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, and more. By building supportive, inclusive communities through outdoor experiences, we hope to make a lasting impact on the lives of those who have served our country.

Stephen Fleming

Founder & President

Board Member

Steve retired from the U.S. Coast Guard with over 20 years of service. He has paddled everywhere the service has taken him to
including; Panama, Cuba Honduras, Columbia, and Alaska.

The idea to create Paddle for Heroes came to Steve while stationed in Virginia, where he saw his first ADA Accessible kayak launch.

“I observed a veteran with a disability utilizing the launch to go kayak fishing. I thought it was absolutely amazing as I witnessed him transition from his wheelchair to his kayak without any assistance”.

Steve later discovered two veteran kayak organizations;
Heroes on the Water and Team River Runner.

Steve had always wanted to kayak from his home town of Mount Vernon, Ohio to the Ohio River”.

He gathered with some friends from Ohio spending countless hours planning the trip. They wanted to raise money during the trip for Team River Runner and Heroes On the Water. They launched on their first trip to Marietta on April 29th, 2017. The group ended up raising $6,000 between both organizations.

Steve is a level 2 ACA kayak instructor. His hobbies include, canoeing with his dog Feller, river kayaking, stand up paddle
boarding, winter ultra fat bike racing, hiking, and camping.

Joey Butts

Vice President

Board Member

Joey Butts fell in love with canoeing around the age of 13 when his church youth group started doing annual canoe trips.

Throughout his adult life, which included 17 years in the Army, he dreamed of doing longer trips and camping out of his canoe.

In 2010, Joey started to wind down his Army Career and would realize his dream by encouraging his family to start doing trips with him.

In 2017 Joey discovered Paddle For Heroes, while participating in the Knox Co. Recycling and Litter Preventions, Kokosing River Clean Up. Upon learning of the groups' mission, Joey was hooked and went out with the group as much as possible; including the groups flagship event,

"The Mt. Vernon to Marietta 160 mile Veterans Awareness Paddle" four times.

Knowing that all veterans and first responders have varying degrees of struggles to deal with, Joey felt that this was a mission he could get on board with.

Joey has served several years as the PFH Community Outreach Officer and now serves as Vice President for the 501c3.

Gina Mosher

Secretary

Board Member

Gina grew up exploring the hills and lakes of Western New York, and her love for nature has only deepened over the years. Gina is very proud to come from a family with a rich history of military service.

Gina worked with those most at risk in the non-profit sector for over 30 years, before moving to Ohio to pursue a career in property management. Her experience with combat veterans, as well as her previous career experience have prepared her well for her "work" at PFH.

Some of Gina's favorite ways to escape the demands of everyday life are to spend time with her family, primitive canoe camping, and watching the river flow by.

Sonya Bollin

Treasurer

Board Member

Sonya is a wife, mother, and grandmother who loves spending time in nature. Sonya truly appreciates Paddle for Heroes for their

dedication to preserving our rivers.

After working for years in a grocery store, Sonya went back to school to obtain a degree and career in accounting/finance.

While she is not a veteran, Sonya comes from a family containing several veterans and states,

"I cannot stress enough how much we owe to our veterans, and I enjoy being part of a group that supports them and their health needs".

MSgt Adam Porter

Military Liaison Officer
Board Member

MSgt Adam Porter is the First Sergeant for the Logistics Readiness Squadron at the 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield, OH. He is also an Air Cargo Specialist within the 179th LRS.

Adam was born in Mansfield, OH and has continued to live in the area. He graduated from Clear Fork High School in 1996 and went on to study at the University of Akron. Adam also attended the Ohio State Universities Agricultural Institute, where he graduated in 2010. Adam also received an Associates of Applied Science in Environmental Resource Management and Business Management.

Adam's love for the outdoors is still a focus today, as he spends his spare time with his wife and 2 children in nature. Growing up 0n a farm has encouraged him to pass down this passion for nature to his children. He finds the outdoors calming and an escape from the everyday grind. Adam feels extremely blessed by his military experience and hopes to pay it back and forward to any and all veterans that he can.

Working with so many amazing veterans gives him the desire to serve them as they have served America.

Jon Noel

Trustee
Board Member

*Bio coming soon.